Eating food is not only cathartic, it’s a necessity since we need to take in nutrients for the metabolism of the human body. When you are tired from the weight of the world, whether you’re a student or working adult, many people drown their blues by eating and snacking. A delicacy is defined as food that is especially rare or expensive, that is good to eat. In some parts of the world, bull’s eyes are considered a great delicacy. But, for now, we will choose delicacies that are more palatable and not out of the ordinary, hard to find or an appetite turn-off. Here, are several delicious European delicacies, to whet your appetite.
1. Gelato: An ice cream-like delicacy
Gelato is Italian- style ice cream. But unlike ice cream, which is made from cream, Gelato is made with milk, which means fewer calories and it is a healthier choice. For many, gelato is a delicacy to behold. It is meant to be eaten slowly while savouring the rich flavour of milk and dense texture.
Since gelato is made with much less air in it than ice cream, this leaves it with a much thicker texture. You can certainly chase the blues away by imbibing in this cold, frozen delicacy, that melts on your tongue as you savour every spoonful.
Gelateria Frigidarium
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 112, 00186 Rome, Italy
Facebook: Gelateria Frigidarium
2. Baklava: A type of pastry
Baklava is of Turkish origin. However, the Greeks beg to differ and both the Turks and Greeks claim credit for its origin. It is a pastry, made of many layers of paper-thin dough, with a filling of ground nuts. It is then baked and drenched in a syrup of honey and sometimes cinnamon water, mixed with walnuts for a heavenly ambrosia. For many, it’s an all-time favourite dessert and a delicacy for Europeans.
Karakoy Gulluoglu
Address: Rıhtım Cad. No:3 - 4 Karaköy, 34425 Istanbul, Turkey
Website: Karakoy Gulluoglu (in Turkish)
Taverna Dion
Address: Apollonos 30, Delfi 330 54, Greece
Facebook: Taverna Dion
3. Goulash: A meat and veggie stew
Goulash is a highly seasoned Hungarian meat stew, made with beef and assorted vegetables and flavoured with paprika. For the newbie, paprika is a powdered spice, with a deep vermillion colour and a mildly pungent flavour, made from dried and ground pepper. This gives goulash a piquant taste and savoury flavour. By itself, it is a wholesome meal, rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre. It can be paired with garlic toasted baguette slices or pasta. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a popular meal and a delicacy.
Hungarikum Bisztró
Address: Steindl Imre utca 13, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
Facebook: Hungarikum Bisztró
4. Kottbular: A delicacy in Sweden
Kottbular is a small ball of minced meat, that is seasoned and cooked. Sometimes it is also mixed with other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, minced onion, eggs, butter, and seasoning, for flavour. Kottbular can be paired and eaten with fries, for a fuller meal. The meatballs can be cooked by baking, frying, steaming, or braising them in scrumptious sauce, for that zing! They can even be bought frozen, in the Swedish food market, IKEA.
Meatballs for the People
Address: Nytorgsgatan 30, 116 40 Södermalm, Stockholms Län, Sweden
Website: Meatballs for the People
5. Palacinky: A Czech delicacy
Palacinky is a thin crêpe-like pancake, common in Eastern and Central Europe. The main ingredients are eggs, wheat flour and milk, stirred into a batter before being fried in a pan with melted butter. Unlike thicker types of pancakes, palacinky are usually served with different types of fillings, such as strawberry, apricot or plum jam, and sprinkled with confectioner’s fine castor sugar.
Creperie U Slepe Kocicky
Address: Milady Horákové 38, 170 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Website: Creperie U Slepe Kocicky
6. Pierogi: A delicacy in Poland
Pierogis are a delicacy in Poland and are dough dumplings, stuffed with fillings, such as potato or cheese, and usually served with onions or sour cream. They can also be filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables, like cabbage, mushrooms and spinach and boiled, before being pan-fried for a crispy outer layer. They look like delicious, mouth-watering Chinese wontons, except with cheese.
Przystanek Pierogarnia
Address: Bonerowska 14, 31-030 Kraków, Poland
Website: Przystanek Pierogarnia
7. Pizza: Italian crust topped with veggies and meat
Pizza is an Italian bread crust topped with veggies and meat, mixed with a generous portion of Mozzarella cheese, and sometimes sprinkled with julienned Cheddar cheese. It is the cheese that gives pizza its sticky, gooey texture. PIzza is a staple food in Italy and in most parts of the world, thanks to the Pizza Hut food chain, but the most authentic can be found in Italy and are much more simple and healthy, compared to their American counterparts.
Pizza Zizza Caffetteria Birreria Desserteria
Address: Via Delle Fornaci 11 zona San Pietro, 00165 Rome, Italy
8. Paella from Spain
Paella is a Spanish dish, made of rice, saffron, chicken and seafood, which is cooked and served in a large shallow pan. Saffron is an orange spice, made from the dried stigmas of the crocus flower and it is used to flavour and colour foods. The best paellas have slightly burnt, charcoal rice stuck to the bottom of the pan, only to be scraped off and mixed into the perfectly-cooked saffron rice. This delicacy has been eaten in Spain for eons.
Restaurante 7 Portes
Address: Passeig d'Isabel II 14, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Website: Restaurante 7 Portes
9. Crepes from France
Crepes are thin pancakes and originate in France. A pancake is a flat cake, often round and thin, prepared from a starch-based batter that contains eggs, milk and butter and cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan, frying with oil or melted butter. Crepes may be paired with a dollop of ice-cream or topped with fruit, such as blueberries, to taste.
Creperie Broceliande
Address: 15 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris, France
10. Greek Moussaka
Moussaka is a Greek dish, made of minced lamb, aubergines (eggplant), and tomatoes, with cheese sauce on top. In Greece, the dish is layered and usually served hot. The eggplant is first sauteed with olive oil, puréed tomatoes, garlic, onions and spices like cinnamon, allspice and black pepper. Moussaka can be served in a casserole dish.
Arcadia Restaurant
Address: Makrygianni 27, 117 42, 11742 Athens, Greece
Website: Arcadia Restaurant
A delicious culinary adventure through Europe...
These are some of the best delicacies in Europe that you shouldn’t miss. They are sumptuous and mouthwatering and many European homes hold their own secret recipes, passed down from generation to generation, for centuries. These are hot, yummy classics and the staple foods of various European countries and you can certainly find solace in savouring them, while whetting your appetite.